Businesses Call on Trump to Reverse Decision on Federal Flood Risk Management Rule

September 13, 2017 /3BL Media/ - As the devastating climate change-fueled impacts of Hurricane Irma continue to unfold, and the financial costs of Hurricane Harvey continue to escalate, a network of businesses is calling on the Trump administration to reinstate the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, known as FFRMS. 

The standard requires federal agencies to take into account current and future flood risks in investment decisions related to federally-funded buildings and infrastructure, ensuring they are built to withstand growing flooding threats. 

“Models show that extreme weather events will increase in frequency and severity in the coming decades,” the businesses wrote in a letter delivered today. “We must, as businesses, pursue long-term preparation to lessen the costly climate change-fueled impacts on our economy and communities. The FFRMS is essential to adequately protect our nation's investments in buildings and infrastructure and improve the resilience of our nation’s roads and bridges.”

Days before Harvey hit, President Trump signed an executive order to revoke FFRMS as part of a plan “to streamline the current process” for infrastructure projects, the Washington Post reported. The Post reports that the Trump administration is now reconsidering its decision and “considering whether to issue similar requirements to build higher in flood prone areas.”

The businesses, part of the Ceres BICEP Network, join a growing chorus of U.S. senators who are urging the President Trump to reverse his decision. The senators, who include Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Brian Schatz, and Sen.Tom Carper, plan to introduce legislation to codify the flood rule into law. 

“As a network of major businesses with operation in the U.S. and around the world, we believe the flood-risk management standard is an example of smart decision-making that will strengthen the country’s resilience against growing climate risks,” the businesses added.

Read the full letter here. 

President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Re: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

September 13, 2017

Dear President Trump,

As the devastating impacts of the flooding caused by Hurricane Irma and Harvey continue to unfold, the Ceres BICEP Network urges you to reinstate the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), which your administration revoked in an August 15 Executive Order. This standard was created to ensure federal agencies took into account current and future flood risks in investment decisions related to federally-funded buildings and infrastructure.

Models show that extreme weather events will increase in frequency and severity in the coming decades. We must, as businesses,  pursue long-term preparation to lessen the costly climate change-fueled impacts on our economy and communities. The FFRMS is essential to adequately protect our nation's investments in buildings and infrastructure and improve the resilience of our nation’s roads and bridges.

FFRMS will save money for taxpayers, the government and businesses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has demonstrated that every dollar invested in flood mitigation leads to an average of four dollars in savings on rebuilding. We put our taxpayer dollars at risk if we fail to consider the financial threats posed by flooding.

As a network of major businesses with operation in the U.S. and around the world, we believe the flood-risk management standard is an example of smart decision-making that will strengthen the country’s resilience against growing climate risks The flexible standard allows each federal agency to comply in the least costly way.  

Just as the rebuilding process after Hurricane Sandy informed the decision to issue Executive Order 13690, we hope you will take seriously the lessons Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are providing. Using the best available science and building practices to predict and mitigate impacts of future weather events is a common-sense approach, will save taxpayers money, and more importantly can help save lives. and lessen the overall economic impact of storms. For this reason, the BICEP network urges you to reinstate the Federal Flood Risk Management System.

Thank you for your consideration. Representatives of our Network would be happy to discuss this further with your staff and answer any questions you may have. I can be reached at kelly@ceres.org or 617-247-0700 x135. Please do not hesitate to follow up.

Sincerely,

Anne Kelly
Senior Director, Policy and BICEP Network (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy)
Ceres
99 Chauncy Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
T: 617-247-0700 x135
C: 781-354-6708
kelly@ceres.org
www.ceres.org
www.ceres.org/bicep

The Ceres BICEP Network comprises influential companies advocating for stronger climate and clean energy policies at the state and federal level in the U.S. As powerful champions of the accelerated transition to a low-carbon economy, Ceres BICEP Network members have weighed in when it has mattered most. For more information on the Ceres BICEP Network, visit www.ceres.org/BICEP.

Cc: Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Tom Bossert, National Security Advisor, The White House